Today is 11/11/11! (Again!)

Here we are again! It's 11/11/11!

Twice in one month (first time since the first decade of the 20th century)

and not again until 2018.

Has anything felt any different during the portal

between the last '11/11' day (earlier this month) and this one?

Not sure but it does feel like big changes are coming!

I did make sure to buy my lottery ticket

at exactly 11:11 today so...

I'll send a postcard from whatever island I end up on!

Still a few hours until the clock again turns 11:11 on 11/11/11.

How will you spend it?

(Postcard courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Frequently in our neighborhood, a 'gaggle' of turkeys

looks up as we pass by. (I always wonder what they're thinking.)

Since having my Native American Totem Animals read to me recently,

I now wonder what's happening in my life (what I'm thinking) when I see them

and what their visitation might symbolize.

As Totem Animals, the Turkey symbolizes Generosity, Abundance,

Fertility, Awareness, LifeGiving and Sharing.

They are a reminder to count our blessings!

And this holiday, I am mindful of the many blessings life offers.

This world is incredibly generous, abundant and fertile beyond belief

when we remember to be aware of the lifegiving sources around us

and share them with others.

And while I am making my list of blessings,

know that you are on that list!

Wishing all a truly Blessed Thanksgiving!

(Vintage Postcard courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'~Notre Dame de Paris

Another Notre Dame shot! Does anybody ever really get tired of these?

This is the view from the cafe side where I sit and write at Le Petit Pont.

I am so excited (regardless of whatever the winter weather decides to do) to sit,

people watch, sip something warm, nibble cold popcorn and write from my favorite place

in the oldest section of Paris!

I shall walk along the Seine, under the bridges and wonder

about what happened in the same cobblestone locations, in the very same dark places, under similar bridges, centuries ago.

I keep hoping that story ideas will transfer themselves from the minds of those who walked here before; that thoughts hang in the air; that memories can be caught with just the right

twist of intent.

Is it possible that the breath of those very same thoughts

that once walked beneath these bridges still lingers

through centuries of rain and windstorms,

hail and snow, just waiting for

the one who wants them?

I'll let you know...

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'~Chateau Azay le Rideau

One of the Loire's earliest Renaissance chateaux, Azay le Rideau,

located about 150 miles southwest of Paris in the Loire Valley,

was built in the 16th century.

And like Chenonceau and Cheverny, it was created by a woman.

Gilles Berthelot, a financier under Louis XII and Francois I,

left the details of construction to Madame Berthelot.

When Gilles was accused of embezzlement, he left the area

(fleeing to Lorraine) where he died a few years later.

Francois I confiscated the chateau

(from Madame Berthelot) and gave it to one of his officers

as a token of his appreciation.

The story reminds me of Vaux le Vicomte,

a similar story of a finance minister to a King creating something too beautiful.

That story inspired the building of Versaille

(after the imprisonment of the finance minister and confiscation of his property,

architect, painter and gardener).

Moral: Never one-up a King!

(Photographs copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Wizard of Oz~ 70th Anniversary Encore Event

They're doing it again! This Tuesday November 17th at 6:30pm.

After a few streaming and other problems, a requested encore will take place this week.

After the show last time, I witnessed a near fight (between middle-aged adult males)

outside the theater over someone's noise level during the show

(during which a theater employee had to be called in).

They both told each other the other needed to grow up!

Who knew The Wizard of Oz could spur near violence between 'adults'!

Can't wait for the encore presentation

(hopefully with less problems and a more~or less~ mature crowd).

Today is 11/11/11!

I always assumed it was just me~ that ominous feeling I had anytime I saw 11:11 on the digital clock but apparently it is a phenomenon that many have attached meaning to. I always felt like it was the time I would die. (Some things became eerily clear the day I saw my birth certificate and realized that my time of birth was 11:10am. So 11:11 was actually my very first moment on earth.)

This month, in numerology, the entire month adds up to 11/11: November being the 11th month and 2009 adding up to 11. And 11 is considered a Master Number- the others here being 22 and 33- which mean even greater intensity.

According to Christine DeLorey (Creative Numerology), for the first time in our lifetimes, we are now, today, experiencing the energy of 11/11/11 and as rare as this is, it will occur twice this month, again on November 29th.

Let's look at some of the numbers associated with today's rare energy pattern:

1~ is the symbol of Light, associated with the sun. It is Life Force itself. Beginnings of all things and energy that changes form. A high degree of mental vision. Intuition. Illumination~ truth coming to light.

2~(1+1=2)- is unity and correlation. Reproduction. Cohesive thinking. It is adaptability, common sense, a pacifying influence. It is peace.

3~ (11 x 3=33)- is activity and action. Catalyst. Communication. Expression and optimism.

Now when the numbers are doubled, the energy changes, both in intensity and potential. They become Master Numbers.

11 is about illumination, vision and inspiration. Intuitive knowledge and mastery. Or as DeLorey points out, "elev-ated intuition".

22 combines the power of 1's vision and inspiration with structure and cohesiveness. It is the power of manifestation.

33 is about using the imagination to combine 11 and 22 with enlightened communication.

6 is about our personal home base. Priorities, family, healing. Responsibility.

With all of this knowledge, there are a myriad of ways to spend the day. Me? I believe at exactly 11:11 on 11/11/11, I will be in a state of meditation, focusing on...World Peace. No wait! That was from my Ms. Enlightened Universe speech.

I will be having a phenomenal meditation partay for 1!

(Actually, World Peace will be on my list! And in regards to 2012, there are also any number of ways to read today's energy with all of the above information. But as DeLorey states: "...this is not a time for speculation concerning the future as if it is something set in stone. On the contrary, it is what we do or don't do between now and 2012 that is all important." )

(Image from Graphics Fairy)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'~Creperie in Chinon, France

A little creperie in the Medieval town of Chinon, once the favorite residence of King Henry Plantagenet (of England). I love how the river (Vienne) in this window painting flows into the street reflection of cobblestones (or vicy vercy).

The town, in the heart of the Loire Valley, was once a Roman camp and later, the birthplace of the famous French writer Rabelais, a Renaissance writer and satirist, doctor and humanist.

One of my favorites of his quotes: "Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words."

Chinon was also visited by Joan of Arc in 1429 who announced herself to the King of France as "a messenger of God". A statue of the Angel of France graces the Place Jeanne d'Arc.

If I were here now, I would water my horse with the region's Cabernet Franc red and order une crepe avec beurre et sucre.

Do you have a favorite crepe?

(Photography copyright: Kirsten Steen)

A Fall Soak...

After doing massages recently in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon,

I stopped at a couple of lakes for a walk in the Fall sunshine,

then headed to

Belknap Hotsprings

for an early evening soak before driving home.

Belknap has two mineral pools,

a Lodge for overnight guests

as well as cabins and camping options

and a lovely garden walk

(photos to be added in a future post).

The lobby was

dressed for the holiday...

...and the grounds still awash with

summer's last blooms.

Ahhhhhhhh.....

Drunk with minerals, sunshine,

lake and river views,

skyhigh Doug Firs against the deepening blue skies,

the sunset glow and the entire body soaked in hot water.

Divine!

~Pool facilities are $7 per hour or $12 per day per person.

Hours are from 9am to 9pm Sun-Thurs.

9am to 10pm Fri/Sat.

Bathing suits required.~

(Mineral Springs content: Lithium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, cesium, fluorine, chloride, bromide,

iodine, antimony, copper, mercury, bromine, lead, arsenic, magnesium, calcium, strontium,

barium, manganese, iron, phosphate, silicon dioxide, sulfate, carbonate, bicarbonate!)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'~L'Amoureuse

In honor of our upcoming trip to Paris, I'm showing a whimsical little video with Carla Bruni's L'Amoureuse. I'm so behind the times. I knew that the new(ish) wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy had been a model but was surprised to find that she is a singer as well. I know. I really should know these things.

Hope you enjoy the video as much as I did!

(P.S. To enjoy the video without interruption, go to the bottom of this blog and click the Pause button to stop the background music--which is now L'Amoureuse.)